Moreover,
Scientists nasa oxford discover uranus:
Jupiter. Similarly, Saturn and Neptune emit more energy than they receive from the sun, a sign that they scientists nasa oxford discover uranus have a relatively hot interior. Similarly, Uranus could now join this limited circle of planets.
A new look at the mysterious Uranus – Scientists nasa oxford discover uranus
Thanks to advanced IT models. Moreover, a new analysis of old data, scientists now believe that Uranus could actually be warmer than we thought so far.
For millennia, astronomers believed that Uranus was just a distant star. Meanwhile, It was not until the end of the 18th century that he was universally recognized as a planet. However, Even today, this blue world surrounded by rings continues to thwart the expectations of scientists. For example, But a new NASA search makes it possible to raise part of the mystery. Meanwhile,
Uranus is different from all the other bodies in the solar system. It turns on the side. In addition, which means that each of its poles is directly facing the sun for a continuous summer of 42 years. Uranus also turns in scientists nasa oxford discover uranus the opposite direction of all other planets, with the exception of Venus. The data collected during the overview of traveling 2 in 1986 had also suggested that the interior of the planet was abnormally cold. Pushing scientists to rethink fundamental theories on the training and evolution of planets in our system.
“Since the passage of Voyager 2. everyone says that Uranus has no internal heat,” explains Amy Simon, Planetologist at the NASA Goddard space flight center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “But it has always been difficult to explain, especially compared to other carbonated giants. »»
Today. thanks to an advanced computer modeling technique and the analysis of several decades of data, Amy Simon and a team of researchers have discovered that Uranus actually generates a little warmth. These results were published on May 16, 2025 in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Uranus joins the special planet club
The internal heat of scientists nasa oxford discover uranus a planet Can be estimated by comparing the amount of energy it receives from the sun to that which it returns in space. in the form of reflected light and emitted heat. The other giant planets of the solar system – Saturn. Jupiter and Neptune – emit more warmth than they receive, This means that part of this heat comes from their interior, a vestige of intense energy processes that gave birth to the planets 4.5 billion years ago.
The quantity of heat emitted by a planet can also give an indication of its age: the more it frees little heat from what it absorbs the sun. the more it could be old.
Uranus was distinguished so far from other giants because he seemed to emit as much warmth as he received. which suggested that he had no internal heat. What confuse scientists. Some have hypothesized that the planet may be scientists nasa oxford discover uranus much older than the others and had completely cooled. Others suggested that a gigantic collision – possibly the one that tilted the planet on the side – would. have expelled all its heat. But none of these theories really convinced, pushing the researchers to elucidate the mystery.
“We wondered: “Is it possible that Uranus really has no internal heat?” “, tells Patrick Irwin, principal author of the study and professor of planetary physics at the University of Oxford. “We have carried out many calculations to determine the quantity of solar light reflected by Uranus. and we realized that in reality, it is more reflective than we thought. »»
The researchers then wanted to establish Uranus’ complete energy balance: How much energy does it receive from the sun. how much it returns in the form of light, and how much it emits in the form of heat. For this, they had to estimate scientists nasa oxford discover uranus the light reflected by the planet in all directions. “We must observe the light diffused on the sides, not only that which returns to us,” explains Amy Simon.
In order to obtain the most precise estimate to date of the energy balance of Uranus. Oxford researchers have developed a computer model incorporating everything that we know about its atmosphere, On the basis of decades of observations made with terrestrial and spatial telescopes, including the NASA Hubble Spatial Telescope and the NASA infrared telescope in Hawaii. The model takes into account the mists. the clouds and the seasonal variations of the planet, all factors which influence the way in which solar light is reflected and whose heat escapes.
Images side by side of a whitish blue circular sphere almost identical on a black background. The sphere of the image on the left. dated “2014” below in the center, is mainly light blue with some slightly purplish areas and diffuse white spots. The one on the right. marked “2022” at the bottom, is very similar, but has a large white spot on the right as well as an elongated ring barely visible around it.
The researchers discovered that Uranus emits approximately 15 % more energy than it receives from the sun. A figure similar to another recent estimate resulting from an independent study, scientists nasa oxford discover uranus partially funded by NASA and published on July 14 in Geophysical Research Letters. These works suggest that Uranus indeed has its own heat. although it remains much lower than that of its neighbor Neptune, which more emits double the energy it receives.
“We must now understand what exactly this amount of residual heat means on Uranus. and obtain more precise measures,” said Amy Simon.
Deciphering the past of Uranus does not only make it possible to establish a chronology of the formation of the planets of the solar system. their migration to their current orbits. It also helps scientists better understand many worlds discovered outside our system. called exoplanets, the majority of which are of scientists nasa oxford discover uranus size comparable to that of Uranus.
Scientists nasa oxford discover uranus
Article reference:
Source : NASA, par Emma Friedman
NASA Goddard Spatial Flight Center
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